Load rotating and positioning attachment for industrial truck



.Dec. 24, 1957 B. 1. ULINSKI LOAD ROTATING AND POSITIQNING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1954 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1957 B. I. ULINSKI 2,817,450

LOAD ROTATING AND POSITIQNING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Aug. 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY 6,17 M4 ATTORNEY I ULINSKI LOAD ROTATING AND POSITIONING ATTACHMENT Dec. 24, 1957 B.

FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Aug. 30. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ticl-5- INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Unite LOAD ROTATING AND POSITIONING ATTACH- MENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Application August 30, 1954, Serial No. 453,008 8 Claims. 01. 214-652) This invention relates to a truck of the type adapted to rotate and up-end a load such as a coil of strip steel.

Industrial trucks adapted for this purpose are old and well known in the art. They comprise, in general, a carriage moving vertically on uprights, the carriage support ing a load handler for rotation relatively to the carriage on a horizontal axis positioned longitudinally and centrally on the truck. This load handler is usually equipped with grippers adapted to grip the outer circumference of the steel coil when the coil is resting on one of its flat sides. Thereafter, rotation of the coil with the load handler will align the coil with its circumference facing the floor. The carriage is then lowered to bring the coil against the floor with the grippers releasing the coil. Generally, it is necessary to pull one of the grippers out from under the coil, with the coil rolling slightly. Where the coil is resting initially on its circumference against the floor, it is necessary to force one of the load grippers under the coil in order thereafter to rotate the load grippers with the load handler when it is desired to allow the coil to rest on one of its flat sides.

It is obvious that in the particular type of structure, it is impossible to use any form of simple means for gripping the coil through entry into its central opening. This is true because the load handler can rotate only in a central axis longitudinal of the truck, and therefore the coil will merely rotate always in a direction to maintain its circumference facing the floor if held by a gripper extending from the load handler into the coil opening. Of course, complex means could be developed for up-ending a load by grippers entering the central opening of the coil, but the very cost of such means would be an important factor in limiting the use and value thereof.

I have conceived an exceedingly simple structure whereby it is possible to grip a heavy coil of steel strip and to rotate that coil from a position in which one of its fiat sides is against the floor to a position in which its circum ference is against the floor, or vice versa. My novel concept enables me moreover to grip the coil when the coil is stored in contact with other coils and its sides are not accessible, and yet to grip the coil without obstructing either of the coil surfaces upon which it rests when rotated from one position to another. When gripping the coil in this way, my novel structure nevertheless can rotate the coil in an axis that passes near the center of the coil. While my invention is particularly adapted for moving a coil having a central opening, its very nature and basic concept makes possible the use of any form of gripping mechanism for, in effect, rotating a load forwardly or rearwardly of the length of the truck about an axis transverse of the truck. I have used the words in effect because the load is actually not rotated in this manner, but is moved to bring its positioning as though it were so rotated.

In brief, I utilize a rotating load handler that rotates relatively to the truck about an axis that I fix preferably at 45 to the horizontal and vertical. This load handler ent 2,817,450 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 has a load gripper adapted to grip a load, whereby to rotate the load in the axis. Because of the 45 axis, I can arrange the gripper to engage merely an upper part of the load, and rotation of 180 will then move the load in effect, in an axis transverse relatively to the load handler. It is reiterated that I use the words in effect" because while there is actually no such rotation transverse of the axis, the eifect is substantially that, however.

In more detail, the rotation of the load handler about its unusual and novel axis will effect the movement of a coil from a position with its circumference against the floor to a position with one of its flat sides against the floor, or vice versa. Further, while the gripper of my invention is adapted particularly for the handling of coils of steel strip, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other forms of grippers may be utilized for gripping drums or other cylindrical objects and up-ending them to rest on flat sides or circumferences as may be required. In addition, the angle of the axis of rotation may be adjusted for variously shaped loads that must be shifted from one position to a second position, all of which will appear quite clearly presently.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my novel load handler shown applied to an industrial truck.

Fig. 2 is a front View of my load handler.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. l, but with the load rotated to a different position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my load handler.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, I show my novel load handler mounted upon the lifting carriage 10 of an industrial truck. This lifting carriage is equipped with the usual rollers 11 through which it is mounted to move vertically on chan nel uprights 12 on the front of the truck, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. I prefer to construct the load handler as an attachment for the truck, with a vertical plate 13 that is adapted to be mounted upon the front plate 14 of the lifting carriage 10 through upper and lower brackets 15, 16. I may, of course, construct my load handler as an integral part of the load carriage 10.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I show at C a coil of strip steel to be rotated by the load handler. This coil C has opposed fiat sides 17, 18, and a central opening 19 in the axis of the coil. I indicate opposed sides of the outer circumferential coil surface by the numerals 20, 21.

Upon the vertical plate 13 of my novel load handler I mount a forwardly extending bracket 22. This bracket 22 has a housing portion 23 that supports a pair of roller bearings 24, 25 in an inclined axis. For reasons that will appear, I arrange this axis particularly at 45 to the vertical and horizontal. A shaft 26 rotates in the bearings 24, 25,

and a gripper jaw 27 is mounted integrally on the lower and outer end of this shaft. The opposedend of the shaft 26 is threaded at 28 to hold a nut 29, and this nut together with a shoulder 30 on jaw 27 prevents endwi'semovement of the'shaft 26 The gripper jaw 27 extends outwardly from its shaft 26, and I'form the outer end of this jaw with a load engaging surface 31 extending transversely to the axis of shaft 26 at an angle of 45. As best seen in Fig. 6, the load engaging surface 31 is curved to conform approximately to a part of the central coil opening 19. Because of the angular position of the jaw surface 31 relatively to the axis of shaft 26, this surface 31 isadaptedto move to either a vertical or horizontal position throughrotation of the jaw 27 on bearings24, 25. Thus, jaw 27 can engage in the central opening of coil Cwhether its flat side-18 faces the floor, as in Fig. l, or its circumferential side 21 facesthe floor, as in Fig. 3. I prefer so to form the jaw 27 that its 45? load engaging surface 31 actually extends across the axis of the shaft 26, as will be understood from Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. Thereby the center of the coil C is near the axis of rotation when the coil is supported on the load handler. I may utilize a shoulder 31a on the jaw 27 for engaging the flat side 17 of coil C in order to assist inpositioning the jaw surface 31 relatively to the coil.

I mount a movable gripper jaw 32 upon the jaw 27 through a pair of links 33, Figs. 1, 2, and 6, this jaw 32 having a surface 34 in opposed relation to jaw 27. The links 33 are pivoted to opposed sides of jaw 27 through a transverse shaft 35, and the jaw 32 is mounted on the opposed ends of the links 33 through a pivot shaft 36, best seen in Fig. 6. Thus, the jaw 32 can move against the outer side of coil C, and while moving in this way, can rock upon the pivot shaft 35 so as to enter into firm gripping engagement with the coil. On the sides of the movable jaw 32 are pins 37, Fig. 6, that move in slots 38 in the links 33, these pins holding the jaw 32 in opposed relation to the jaw 27 when the movable jaw is in release position and therefore free to rock on shaft 36.

The particular means that is utilized to actuate movable jaw 32 is not important to an understanding of my invention, but for the purposes of disclosure I show the opposed jaw 27 formed with a rearwardly extending arm 39 upon which a ram 40 is mounted through a pivot 41. An outer end portion 42 of the ram plunger is pivoted to the shaft 36 in a slot 43 formed in the rear side of jaw 32. Thus, through actuation of the ram 40, the jaw 32 will move on the links 33 relatively to jaw 27 to grip or to release the load. The jaws 27 and 32, of course, rotate together on the bearings 24, 25 in housing 23, and for rotating the jaws a hydraulic ram 44 is mounted upon a side portion 45 of the bracket 22, as will be seen in Figs. 3 and 4. I equip the ram plunger with a rack 46, best seen in Fig. 5, this rack 46 sliding in openings 47 in the housing portion 23 of the bracket 22 and meshed with a gear 48 that is fixed on the shaft 26. Through actuation of the ram 44, therefore, the gripper jaws 27 and 32 will rotate the coil C gripped by these jaws.

It is important to observe that in my extremely novel load handler the jaws 27, 32 rotate in an axis that extends substantially at equal angles relatively to the two surfaces of the load upon which the load rests when rotated from one position to another. The coil C will, of course, rest upon one fiat side when in one position, this being the side 18 as I have shown the coil in Fig. 1. In another position of the coil C, as shown in Fig. 3, the coil is adapted to rest upon one side 21 of the coil circumference. Naturally, these sides 18 and 21 are at 90 relatively to one another, and since the bracket 22 supports the shaft 26 of the load handler at an angle of 45 to thevertical and horizontal, the rotating axis of jaws 27, 32 is at equal angles to the coil sides 18 and 21. It isth'rough' this arrangementthat I can grip thecoil C at points'tliaft are 4 spaced from both of the coil sides 18 and 21. Thereby, my novel load handler can move freely into and out of gripping relation to the coil C whether the coil rests upon a flat side or a circumferential side, and does not in any way obstruct these sides.

It will be understood, ofcourse, that my load handler will be moved into and out of gripping position through movements of the truck and load carriage. Thus, with the coil resting upon its flat side 18, as in Fig. l, the gripper 27 will be inserted in the coil opening 19 through a downward movement of the lifting carriage llh The jaws 27 and 32 are then in the position shown in Fig. 1 so that, upon actuation of the ram 40, the jaws will grip the coil C. The coil may then be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3, after first lifting the load a short distance upon the carriage 10. Because of the 45 inclination of the axis in which the load rotates, the jaws 27 and 32 when rotated 180 will, in effect, rotate the load If the coil C is then deposited upon the floor through a downward movement of the carriage 10, the coil will rest upon its curved side 21. A release movement of the movable jaw 32 will then enable the truck to move the jaws 27, 32 rearwardly away from the coil C.

Through the extremely novel load handler that I have described, I enable a lift truck to rotate a coil of strip steel so that its axis rotates 90 while utilizing the central opening of the coil to grip the coil. The gripper jaws do not extend over either of the coil surfaces upon which the coil rests, and it is never necessary to force a gripper under the coil, or between the coil and an adjacent coil. Also, since the jaws do not obstruct these surfaces, the truck can deposit the coil with the particular surfaces in actual contact with the floor and an adjacent coil. It will also be understood .that where particular surfaces of aload have a different relationship, the axis of rotation may be difiercntly set to handle the load to rest on either of said surfaces. I believe, that the very considerable value of my invention will .nowbe under-. stood and appreciated.

I now claim:

1. In a truck of the class described, a load holder adapted to enter the centralopening of a coil for lifting the coil when said coil rests on its circumference with said central opening horizontal or on one flat side with said central opening vertical, and means mounting said load holder for rotation-on an axis at that angle to the vertical and horizontal whereby rotation of the holder 180 moves said holder between a position in which it is aligned with the coil opening when the coilrests on its circumference and a position in which said holder is aligned with the central opening of the coil when the coil rests on :a flat side, whereby said holder can lift the coil in either of its said positions and move it to the other of its positions.

2. In a truck of the class described for handling a load that has two surface portions upon either of which it may rest on a floor or the like, a load gripper, means whereby the gripper grips the load at points space-d from, the said two surface portions, bearings mounting said load gripper for rotation in a predetermined axis, and said axis being predetermined to lie in inclined angular relation to each of said two surface portions of the load when the gripper holds the load whereby rotation of the gripper moves the load from a position in which one of said surface portions faces the floor to a second position in which the other of said surface portions faces the floor.

3. In a truck of the class described for handling a load that has two surface portions in 90 relation to each other and upon either of which it may rest on afloor or the like, a load gripper, means whereby .the gripper grips the load at points spacedfrom the said two surface portions, bearings mountingsaid load grippenfor rotation in a predetermined axis, and said axis being. pre-. enta -med e t 5 a ch. fs id twe vr a P tions of the load when the gripper holds the load whereby rotation of the gripper 180 moves the load from a position in which one of said surface portions faces the floor to a second position in which the other of said surface portions faces the floor.

4. Ina combination of the class described, a load gripper having a portion for entering the central opening of a coil of strip steel, and bearings mounting said load gripper for rotation on a predetermined axis angular both to the horizontal and vertical whereby rotation thereof in said axis brings said load gripper portion into alignment with the central opening of the coil when said coil is resting on a flat side or its circumference, so that said load gripper portion may enter said central opening in either of the said positions of said coil for lifting said coil.

5. In a combination of the class described for handling a load that has two surface portions upon either of which it may rest on a floor or the like, a load gripper for gripping the load at points spaced from the said two surface portions, bearings mounting said load gripper for rotation in a predetermined axis angular to the hori zontal and vertical and passing through the load when the load is gripped with either of its surface portions resting on the floor, and means for rotating said gripper in said axis on said hearings to move the load when held by the gripper from a position in which one of said surface portions faces the floor to a second position in which the other of said surface portions faces the floor.

6. In a truck of the class described for handling a load that has two surface portions upon either of which it may rest on a floor or the like, a load gripper having jaws for gripping the load at points spaced from the said two surface portions, bearings mounting said load gripper for rotation in a predetermined axis angular to the horizontal and vertical and passing near the center of the load when the load is gripped with either of its surface portions resting on the floor, and means for rotating said gripper in said axis with the load gripped by the jaws to move the load from a position in which one of said surface portions faces the floor to a second position in which the other of said surface portions faces the floor.

7. In a truck of the class described for handling a coil of strip steel, a load gripper for gripping the coil by entry of a part thereof into the central opening the the coil when the coil rests on its circumference with said central opening horizontal or on one flat side with said central opening vertical, bearings mounting said load gripper for rotation in a predetermined axis lying parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck and angular to the vertical and horizontal, and means for rotating said gripper on said hearings in said predetermined axis to rotate the said part of said gripper into alignment with the central opening of the coil when said coil is resting on a flat side or its circumference so that said load gripper part may enter said central opening in either of these said positions of said coil for lifting said coil.

8. In a truck of the class described for handling a coil of strip steel, a load gripper for gripping the coil by entry of a part of the gripper into the central opening of the coil when the coil rests on its circumference with said central opening horizontal or on one flat side with said central opening vertical, bearings mounting said load gripper for rotation in an axis inclined at to the horizontal and vertical, and means for rotating said gripper on its bearings to move the said part of said gripper into alignment with the central opening of the coil when said coil is resting on a flat side or its circumference so that said load gripper part may enter said central opening in either of these said positions of said coil for lifting said coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,728 Bridges Oct. 21, 1941 2,325,121 Freeman July 27, 1943 2,497,118 Ferrario et a1. Feb. 14, 1950 2,506,880 Ligler May 9, 1950 2,564,801 Cook Aug. 21, 1951 2,596,477 Frischmann et a1 May 13, 1952 2,600,538 Jackes et a1. June 17, 1952 2,630,931 Douglas Mar. 10, 1953 2,677,475 Davies et a1. May 4, 1954 2,699,697 Kelso Jan. 18, 1955 2,714,969 Bartel et a1. Aug. 9, 1955 

